Music as a Connection Cure

This lecture-recital features Dr. Roydon Tse’s composition “Wild Skies” along with other works on my “Music as a Connection Cure” program. I will discuss both the value and the process of creative program design as well as collaboration with composers to commission new works. The lecture will also present research data and feedback from my recent project “Music as a Connection Cure”, which investigates the impact of live music performances on the emotional and physical wellbeing of patients and health care workers across 6 different hospitals, urgent cares, long-term care units, and adult day care programs in Alberta. I will also explore how particular musical themes and illustrations of various ‘skies’ in Dr. Tse’s composition were prompted to allow the listeners to access connection to their bodies, memories, imagination and sense of belonging to the group around them. The goal of this presentation is to open a continuous discussion on the impact of music therapy programs in our health care system as well as the importance of collective live music experiences in strengthening social bonds and alleviating pain and chronic pain.